Busche nips Hincapie for USA Cycling Pro Road Race National title

Matthew Busche (Wauwatosa, Wisc./Team RadioShack) pulled off the photo finish victory to take the 2011 Greenville Hospital Systems USA Cycling Professional Road Race National Championship presented by TD Bank in downtown Greenville, S.C. on a blazing hot Memorial Day. The 26-year-old nipped hometown hero George Hincapie (Greenville, S.C./BMC Racing Team) at the line, keeping the three-time champion from gaining his fourth Stars-and-Stripes in front of his home crowd.

“It's hard to go to the line with George (Hincapie). He's known to be a really good sprinter. That's how he's won this race multiple times,” said Busche. “I had no idea (I had won). I knew it was close, but I don’t usually do bike throws so I had no idea who won.”

Mid-way through the 115-mile race, a strong group of eight riders was able to build more than three minutes on the field, and with all the major teams represented their prospects looked promising. The powerful field turned up the pace, despite the heat, on the final of four 22.5-mile large loops and a new lead group of nine was quickly established, including many of the heavy hitters.

Tejay VanGarderen(Fort Collins, Colo./HTC-Highroad) then attacked on the final climb up Paris Mountain breaking the lead group apart and leaving things to himself, Hincapie, Busche and Ted King (Brentwood, N.H./Liquigas-Cannondale) heading into the finishing circuits.

VanGarderen made a move early in the first of three 4.2-mile finishing circuits, but couldn’t get away. In the homestretch Hincapie jumped, but Busche was able to grab his wheel and outsprint the five-time Olympian for the national title.

“Matthew made a nice move where he went and then he sat up, so I thought he was finished,” explained Hincapie. “Obviously, he wasn't. He was able to get on my wheel and come around me in the end. It was a great race by Matthew. I gave everything I possibly had, put it all on the line and I'm proud of my effort. I'm proud of Matthew's effort. He hasn't been racing that long and he's done very well, here, in particular. I'm disappointed that I didn't win, but he's a very suitable national champion.”

Just over 100 of the nation's top riders started the event in 90 degree plus temperatures, but only 44 finished.

Despite the soaring temperatures and signature southern humidity, the 44 finishers recorded the fastest time on this course since it was slightly adapted in 2009. Today’s mark of 4:28.02 is more than 16 minutes faster than reigning champ Ben King’s (North Garden, Va./Team RadioShack) 2010 time of 4:44.59.

For the blossoming Busche, a former collegiate cross-country runner who has only been in the sport of cycling for a few years, the professional road national championship marks the first major victory of his career. Saturday’s time trialbronze medalist also becomes the first rider to earn podium finishes in both the time trial and the road race in the six-year history of the current format.

“To see these young kids coming up and putting so much pressure on the older guard of the sport is exactly what we're all about,” said USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson. “Our organization has made a commitment to development for the future. We're making sure that the best Americans are getting opportunities to make the transition to the top level professional teams. You can see this happening right before our eyes.”

“Greenville has been a great host for this event. The exciting thing for me is to see this race be an Americans only race in its sixth year and be as successful as it’s become.”

This Article Published May 30, 2011
For more information contact: asmith -at- usacycling dot org

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